The first phase of the civic polls for over 1.35 lakh local bodies in Tamil Nadu was on Monday marred by allegations of irregularities by opposition parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, against the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam as 28 per cent voters cast their votes by 11 a.m.
Besides complaints of names missing in voters’ list and glitches in Electronic Voting Machines, allegations of non-compliance of High Court order on video recording of the polling, lack of enough security and bogus voting were levelled by the DMK and other parties such as the Pattali Makkal Katchi.
“In non-compliance with High Court orders, around 85 per cent of the booths did not have web cameras installed. No video recording of the polling was done,” DMK Treasurer and former Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin told reporters in Chennai.
Mr. Stalin alleged that AIADMK-sponsored goons were involved in booth-capturing in some areas even as he charged that very little police presence was found in polling booths.
The issue would be taken up with the Chief Justice of Madras High Court, he said.
Meanwhile, PMK’s Mayoral candidate in Chennai and former Union Minister A.K. Moorthy, wrote to Madras Hich Court Chief Justice M.Y. Eqbal alleging “flagrant violations,” regarding its orders on the conduct of free and fair polls.
“There was no police protection provided in polling booths. No Video Coverage of polling happened, booth slip was not provided to voters and there is no person in the polling booth to distribute booth slips,” he said, adding, the State Election Commission had “thrown out the directions of the HC, thus favouring the AIADMK”.
“There is no atmosphere prevalent in the polling booths as to ensure free and fair polling in the Chennai corporation election,” he said while praying for the Court’s intervention for free and fair polls.
